The Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Cultural Mill Institute) recently hosted a conversation circle about the practices of Cururu and Siriri. The chat was with José Gilberto Rozisca and Carmem Ligia Palhano, from the Fundação de Cultura do Pantanal (Pantanal Culture Foundation), and was aimed at the dancers and choreographers of the Cia de Dança do Pantanal (Pantanal Dance Company).

“The chat opened space for us to talk about the transmission of knowledge and experiences of the cururueiros, important figures for maintaining Pantanal culture. We gave a brief explanation covering the historical context of the viola de cocho, pointing to theoretical reference materials, and discussed the continuity of these practices today,” said José Gilberto Rozisca.

For Moinho Cultural’s executive director, Márcia Rolon, getting to know cultural practices is fundamental to an artist’s development. “As interpreter-creators, we need to draw on local culture, acquire a Pantanal identity in order to then recreate something unique and new, that will be only ours. This chat is a continuation of our movement research. We are bringing people to the circle who are references and who contribute to our body work and to the development of the dancers and choreographers of the Cia de Dança do Pantanal,” she highlighted.

The Cia de Dança do Pantanal was created five years ago, within Moinho Cultural, and today performs both inside and outside the country.